BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to the joint legislative committee on information technology; adding a new section to chapter 43.105 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 44 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. PURPOSE. The public expects the legislature to address the increasing demand for information technology services while limiting the growth of state spending. It is imperative that the legislature become more aware of and knowledgeable about information technology and that the legislature assume a more proactive role in creating and monitoring information technology policy for all branches of state government. The legislature needs to know the extent to which information technology programs and activities are achieving their purposes and the extent to which these programs and activities are being provided at maximum value for the state.

The legislature recognizes that information technology, properly used, can be the state's primary tool both for improving delivery of services and for containing the costs of those services. In order to understand better both the state's current information technology investments and how the state should invest in the future, the legislature must develop a more comprehensive view of its information technology investments. A long-range information technology vision must be developed, and strategies to implement this vision must be formulated to provide substantial and sustainable improvements in state operations, including greater productivity and containment of costs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. COMMITTEE CREATED--COMPOSITION--DEFINITION. (1) The joint legislative committee on information technology is created to oversee the direction, management, and expenditures of the state's information technology programs and activities. The committee shall consist of four senators and four representatives from the legislature. The senate members of the committee shall be appointed by the president of the senate, and the house of representatives members of the committee shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Not more than two members from each house shall be from the same political party. All members shall be appointed before the close of the 1997 session of the legislature and before the close of each regular session during an odd-numbered year thereafter. Members shall be subject to confirmation; the senate members by the senate and the house of representatives members by the house of representatives. Four members of the committee constitute a quorum during meetings, and a majority of members in attendance concurring is sufficient for the decision of all matters and the transaction of all business to be decided or transacted by the committee.

(2) As used in this chapter, "committee" means the joint legislative committee on information technology.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. TERMS OF MEMBERS--VACANCIES. Members of the committee who cease to be members of the senate or the house of representatives shall also cease to be members of the committee. Vacancies on the committee shall be filled by appointment by the remaining members. All such vacancies shall be filled from the same political party and from the same house as the member whose seat was vacated.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIPS. On and after the commencement of a succeeding regular session of the legislature during an odd-numbered year, those members of the committee who continue to be members of the senate and house of representatives, respectively, shall continue as members of the committee as provided for in section 3 of this act, and the committee shall continue with all its powers, duties, authorities, records, papers, personnel and staff, and all funds made available for its use.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. The members of the committee shall serve without additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending sessions of the committee or meetings of any subcommittee of the committee, or on other committee business authorized by the committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. REIMBURSEMENT TO MEMBERS. All expenses incurred by the committee, including salaries and expenses of employees, shall be paid upon voucher forms as provided by the administrator and signed by the chair or vice-chair of the committee. Vouchers may be drawn on funds appropriated by law for the committee, however the senate and the house of representatives may authorize the committee to draw on funds appropriated by the legislature for legislative expenses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. OFFICERS AND RULES. The committee shall appoint its own chair, vice-chair, and other officers and to make rules for orderly procedure.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. COMMITTEE'S POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. (1) The committee shall examine, on a continuing basis, the status of information technology in state government, and recommend to the legislature ways to improve the management and use of information technology in state government. Overall, the committee shall serve as the focal point through which the legislature can understand and evaluate the rationale, benefits, drawbacks, and costs of various information technology visions, policies, and activities and take appropriate action. In particular, the committee may:

(a) Conduct oversight hearings, including the summoning of witnesses and other means to procure testimony, and investigations as necessary to inform the legislature about specific information technology activities or needs;

(b) Assist legislators and others in developing legislation relating to information technology;

(d) Recommend and introduce legislation to improve the effectiveness and coordination of information technology programs or projects being proposed, implemented, or operated by departments or agencies of the state; this may include legislation to implement, modify, or terminate such programs or projects.

(2) The committee shall, with the department of information services and the information services board, review and examine:

(a) Major proposals and recommendations related to information technology;

(b) Action plans proposed by agencies to achieve information technology goals contained in the state strategic information technology plan adopted by the information services board; and

(c) Budget estimates proposed by agencies to implement their action plans and make recommendations thereon to the ways and means committee of the senate and the committee on appropriations of the house of representatives and for transportation agencies' budget estimates to the legislative transportation committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE--MINUTES. The committee may make reports to the legislature. The committee shall keep complete minutes of its meetings and hearings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. WITNESS FEES AND MILEAGE. Each person who appears before the committee, other than a state official or employee, may upon request receive for attendance the fees and mileage provided for witnesses in civil cases in courts of record in accordance with RCW 2.40.010, which shall be audited and paid upon the presentation of proper vouchers signed by the person and approved by the secretary and chair of the committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATOR AND OTHER STAFF--EMPLOYMENT--DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATOR. (1) The committee may appoint an officer to be known as the administrator, who shall be the executive and administrative head of the committee and shall assist in its duties and compile information for the committee.

(2) The committee may select and employ temporary and permanent personnel and fix their salaries.

(3) The duties of the administrator are to:

(a) Manage the committee's operations;

(b) Assist the several standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate; appear before other legislative committees; and assist any other entity upon instruction by the committee;

(d) Maintain a record of all work performed by the committee or under the direction of the committee and keep and make available all documents, data, and reports submitted to the committee by any other legislative committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. EXEMPTION FROM DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SERVICES. The committee is exempt from chapter 43.105 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. COOPERATION WITH LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES AND OTHERS. The committee shall cooperate, act, and function with Washington state legislative committees and may cooperate with the councils or committees of other states similar to this committee and with other interstate research organizations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. CAPTIONS NOT LAW. Captions used in this chapter are not any part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. A new section is added to chapter 43.105 RCW to read as follows:

The joint legislative committee on information technology is exempt from this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. Sections 1 through 15 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 44 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.